Britons ready for ‘pensions through ATMs’

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Millions of Britons want to be able to pay into their pensions in the same way they withdraw money from 'holes in the wall'.

Research by Friends Life has found that a third of people currently working would welcome the opportunity to deposit cash into their pensions at an ATM machine.

It is hoped that such ideas could encourage millions of people to save more for their retirement and help stave off a looming savings crisis.

The idea is one of several raised in a new report that has been launched.

Also recommended is an initiative that would allow savers to manage their pension pots through the red button on their TV remote controls, following research that suggested the public was ready for such technologies.

A third option is a 'Pensions Meter', an app for a smartphone that would allow users instant access to real-time pension updates giving them an instant pension fund value.

People already use smartphones and apps for a variety of financial needs, including checking bank account balances, budgeting, paying bills and other investments.

Some examples selected from the Independent's 10 Best personal finance apps:

It reflects a desire to make checking and managing pensions savings more easily.

Almost 3 in 5 (59%) of those in employment would be interested in a service which 'allowed you to easily check the value of your pension and expected retirement income at any time'.

"The growing appetite for pension ATMs reveals a desire for people to have more opportunities to increase the amount they save," said Martin Palmer, head of corporate pensions marketing at Friends Life.

"Although this solution would be complex to implement, there may be some lessons here for the industry that would allow us to develop solutions that give individuals more flexibility to change their pension contributions.

"The industry could also look into using the red button on their TV remote controls, effectively bringing pensions into people's living rooms.

"This might enable savers to investigate how additional top-ups of pensions saving would affect the overall pot - or it might even be used to make contributions from bank accounts."